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Creating a Safe, Effective School Zone Traffic Plan

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Creating a Safe, Effective School Zone Traffic Plan December 2013 Best Practices in School Zone Traffic Calming Creating a Safe, Effective School Zone Traffic Plan Each year, an estimated 100 children are killed in the U.S. as they make their way to and from school, and some 21,000 students are injured from incidents in school zones. The primary factor in these events is speeding. Unfortunately, two­thirds of drivers exceed the legal speed limit when passing through these zones. As higher vehicle speeds are directly correlated to increased rates of pedestrian fatalities (NHTSA), it is imperative that drivers adhere to posted speed limits to avoid the tragic loss of life in school zones. While speeding is the primary cause of school zone injuries, other driver behaviors pose a threat to children here, too: ● “Autopilot” driving ­ “Familiarity breeds inattention,” according to a Churchill Insurance Study which found that 46% of drivers say they are most likely to have no recollection of how they got to their destination during “autopilot journeys,” those regular trips on familiar routes. Importantly, 7% percent of motorists say they are most likely to switch to autopilot while “doing the school run.” ● Distracted driving ­ One in six drivers (17%) are distracted, operating with a slower reaction time further increasing the probability of tragedy in school zones. Combine these driver behaviors with children’s actions commonly associated with school zone injuries—darting into traffic, crossing in front of or behind buses or other vehicles, playing in roadways, crossing an intersection or multi­lane roadway—and it’s easy to see that a successful school zone traffic calming plan must address multiple threats and consider the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, and even drivers. The “Three Es of School Zone Traffic Calming” Creating a speed­free school zone may seem like an unachievable and expensive goal, but, it is possible. Though some traffic­calming solutions can be quite costly, the most basic and most important component—a reduced speed zone—is not expensive. 1 Reduced speed paired with a thoughtful, comprehensive approach that incorporates the “Three Es of School Zone Traffic Calming”—engineering, enforcement and education—can result in safer school zones and saved lives. ENGINEERING A school zone’s “built environment”—its location within a community as well as its proximity to the street—is the foundational engineering component of any school zone traffic calming plan. In addition to the location, other engineering considerations for school zone traffic safety include signage, street markings, sidewalks and vertical traffic calming devices. Signage and Street Markings Well placed signs and pavement markings provide critical information to drivers and students within a school zone. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has developed minimum uniform standards for traffic control devices which include signs, signals and pavement markings to promote safety on the nation’s highways and streets. These guidelines are compiled in the 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices MUTCD. Some jurisdictions have established requirements beyond those of the MUTCD, so school zone signage and markings must comply with both the federal standards as well as the local ones. School Zone Signs alert and educate drivers within the school zone. Some of the most critical signs are: ● Speed limit signs announce school zone speed limits, which typically range from 15 to 25 mph. ● School zone advance warning and end school zone signs alert drivers that they are entering or leaving the reduced speed limit area. ● School crossing signs notify drivers of crosswalks. ● Flashers may be installed at speed limit signs or crosswalks to call attention to critical traffic points. ● Radar speed signs (driver feedback signs) alert drivers to their actual speed, remind them of the speed limit and are scientifically proven to reduce speeding. Pavement markings are messages that are stenciled or otherwise applied directly to the street. They serve as an important supplement to signage. Crosswalk markings are perhaps the most important pavement marking in a school zone as they direct pedestrians to cross the street at the most appropriate locations. The word “SCHOOL” may also be applied to the pavement in strategic areas as outlined by the MUTCD. 2 Pedestrian traffic signals are installed at intersections or crosswalks to allow pedestrians an opportunity to cross the street safely. ● Pedestrian activated traffic lights inform pedestrians with a “WALK” or “DON'T WALK” message when it is safe to cross and may include countdown signals. ● Rapid flashing rectangular beacons, installed in unsignalized crosswalks, alert motorists to pedestrians who have manually activated the beacon. Creating reduced speed zones with MUTCD­compliant signage, painted markings and driver feedback signs provides a basic school zone traffic calming solution that is both effective and cost­efficient. Sidewalks Paved sidewalks offer pedestrians a protected path to the school, separated from vehicle traffic. Sidewalks should be level and, ideally, hard surfaced. They provide the most protection when they provide a buffer zone separating pedestrians from the street. To create a barrier­free environment for everyone, new public sidewalks and street crossings must comply with standards established as part of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The FHWA developed a design guide to assist public works and transportation agencies with this compliance. Some elements of well­designed, accessible sidewalks include curb ramps and warning strips with truncated domes. Vertical Traffic Calming Measures Vertical deflection traffic calming devices are construction­based road alterations designed to improve safety by slowing motor­vehicle traffic. These include speed bumps, speed humps, speed cushions and speed tables. While effective at slowing traffic, a number of disadvantages are associated with the devices. These raised areas of pavement increase traffic noise, damage vehicles and delay emergency vehicle response time. Careful consideration should be made before implementing a plan with vertical traffic calming measures. ENFORCEMENT Engineering solutions alone cannot deliver the desired safe school zones for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers. Installed or engineered options must be augmented with reasonable application and enforcement of laws by those with the legal authority to do so. Ideally, enforcement in school zones is achieved with a combination of crossing guards and local law enforcement officers. Crossing Guards Crossing guards serve an integral role in school zone safety. They help pedestrians and bicycles cross roadways and remind motorists of their presence. And, just as importantly, they serve as excellent role models for the behaviors required to safely cross the street. From a simple pause to look left, right, and left again to reminding drivers of their role in safety, crossing guards model best practices for students and adults alike. There are some federal guidelines on how to determine the need for a guard at a particular location provided through MUTCD recommendations. Because MUTCD recommendations are generally limited to signage, it is notable that guidelines formally recognize crossing guards as 3 an integral component to school zone safety and endorses a list of best practices on crossing supervision—from qualifications of crossing guards to operations and hand­held “Stop” paddles to use of LED flashers to improve visibility. Regardless of the type of program, the factors that must be considered when placing crossing guards in a school zone include the age of the students who will be crossing; the width of the roadway and the number of lanes which will be crossed; the presence of traffic signals, signs and pavement markings; and the speed and volume of traffic on the roadway. Portable or stationary driver feedback signs, used in conjunction with crossing guards, provide a visual enforcement measure to slow traffic at the most critical path where children are crossing the street. School zones, which are rated as a top “autopilot journey” destination, may have increased numbers of autopilot drivers who often break the speed limit, brake too late or don’t stop at pedestrian crossings. Strategically placed driver feedback signs can serve as triggers—stimulating drivers to transition from autopilot to attentive (See: The Science Behind Radar Speed Signs as Neurobehavioral Activators). Portable signs can be placed at the side of the road, or in the center line if there is enough room, to assist in slowing traffic prior to the crossing guard entering the crosswalk. Implementation of crossing guard programs reflect federal, state and local funding issues. Adult crossing guard programs may be actual law enforcement officers, parents or other community volunteers. The National Center for Safe Routes to School offers comprehensive information and best practices for crossing guard programs: “Adult School Crossing Guard Guidelines.” Law Enforcement The very purpose of local police departments is to ensure the safety of their citizens. Police officers have the unique ability to encourage drivers to change dangerous behaviors by enforcing the law. Police departments have a number of enforcement tools at their disposal. ● Increased police presence ­ Typically, driver behavior improves instantly if a police vehicle is nearby. And commuters tend to drive more carefully when they observe, with frequency, the presence of law enforcement
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